Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, a 20-minute audio update on current events in Israel, the Middle East, and the Jewish world. Today’s Daily Briefing is hosted by Amanda Borschel-Dan and features diplomat Lazar Berman as the guest. Following a four-hour security consultation with top officials, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced late last night that it was endorsing what it described as a proposal by US President Donald Trump’s special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to extend the ceasefire with Hamas through Ramadan until Passover on April 19. What is the plan, and how is it being received?

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Israel will not allow any more commodities into Gaza due to Hamas’ refusal to accept the cited American plan, which would result in further captive releases as well as a longer ceasefire. Berman discusses what more Israel is now withholding in response to the mediated phase one arrangement. On Saturday, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the Israel Defense Forces to “prepare to defend” Jaramana, a Druze-majority city on the outskirts of Damascus in Syria. We learn why Israel considers itself to be a defender of Druze and other minorities, as well as the nature of this defense.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced yesterday that he had signed a declaration to expedite the delivery of roughly $4 billion in military assistance to Israel, following the Trump administration’s approval of over $12 billion in significant international weapons sales to the Jewish state. But, after watching Trump’s clash with Zelensky this weekend, which the US leader lauded as “good television,” should Israel be suspicious of similar promises?